Nikola Topić Selected No. 12 Overall by Oklahoma City Thunder | 2024 NBA Draft Grades | CBS Sports

Nikola Topić Selected No. 12 Overall by Oklahoma City Thunder | 2024 NBA Draft Grades | CBS Sports

back here on CBS Sports HQ presented by Jeep Nicola topic headed to the Oklahoma City Thunder 12th overall selection dealing with a partially torn ACL on his left knee after suffering an injury late in may he presents massive long-term potential had a breakout season in Serbia averaging nearly 19 points and seven assists per game while emerging as one of The Playmakers in this class and by the way we now have Nicola yic Nicola yovic and now Nicola Topic in the NBA and we have tied for the most non NCAA players six draft in the top 14 as Rish SAR Holland salon buellis and now topic going 12th overall to Oklahoma City Oklahoma City can make this right they’re not worried about the injury to his ACL they can make this move at 12 your draft a grade is what yeah I I’m going to give them an A minus on this one uh because they have the time to wait on this topic was at one point a top five Prospect in this class we’re talking a big about a big point guard with a terrific instinctive feel for the game and as a passer he gets paint Touches at will and guess what that’s what OKC’s offense is predicated on getting multiple paint touches now topic may not play next season he may have to have that surgery and it may cost him the year but OKC is in a position where they’re already going to be one of the best teams in the west they can afford to wait so this is a long-term play from a team that is already loaded with young talent and now has a really significant long-term asset that fits with their style of play especially now that they’ve moved off of Josh giddy this is brilliant um a lot of people you know to F’s point if you were mocking topic outside of the top five say two months ago like the entire continent would tell you you’re an idiot for doing that this is a guy who has top five Talent undeniably um the Spurs were mocked for him quite a bit but you know ultimately you know they need players to help now they don’t want to lose as much as they lost last season with wimy again in his second year I don’t know that that removed him from consideration but they obviously went another direction if you’re Oklahoma City you got all these picks you got a team that was just the one seat in the west you can wait on him let him get the surgery let him rehab let him come back in 2025 26 and then you’ve got a guy on your roster who a lot of people thought should have never been available where you actually selected him in the 2024 NBA draft topic you like this kid I love this kid and the reason why I love it is I agree with the guys because the trade for Alex Caruso get gives him more time to rehab even if he has to sit out this year and you know he wasn’t going to play but what 10 minutes a game maybe behind the guy who finished second in the MVP uh race with sheld was Alexander who I love but I love this pick this kid in my opinion was arguably I would say one of the top two pick and rooll players in the lottery he finishes well with both hands um I I love watching tape on kids like this because he reminds me of a lot of the old school players that I played against but uh this was a solid pick for Oklahoma City and uh he’ll improve from the outside but the key is Sam presty they don’t need to rush him into action

The CBS Sports HQ crew give their grade for the Oklahoma City Thunder selecting Nikola Topić in the 2024 NBA Draft.

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